District 200 cuts energy, saves cash

A decision to hire an energy conservation consulting firm is paying off for Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200, officials said Monday.

The district has achieved an estimated 25 percent cost savings totaling about $1.2 million in the 19 months since it started implementing strategies provided by Dallas-based Energy Education.

School board President Andy Johnson praised Colin Wilke, District 200's energy operations manager, for working with the consultants to help the district go "above and beyond" to reduce energy consumption.

District 200 spokesman Robert Rammer said Energy Education was hired two years ago because of a concern about budget cuts and rising expenses.

The district has saved money in a variety of ways, including having teachers, administrators and other staff members turn off computers, shut off lights and close blinds.

"This was really a people-driven program," Rammer said Monday. "We went to each one of our buildings to help people understand how little things can add up to significant dollars."

As part of his job, Wilke uses a computer program to track the energy consumption - including electricity, water, sewer, natural gas and fuel oil - at district buildings. By tracking consumption and analyzing energy use, officials say, areas that need immediate attention can be quickly identified and corrected.

"We certainly couldn't have got this kind of result on our own," said Rammer, referring to the assistance Energy Education provides.

Rammer said the estimated $1.2 million in savings has more than paid the price of hiring the consulting firm, which is in the middle of a four-year contract with District 200. Energy Education is being paid $334,800 a year by the school district.

Meanwhile, Energy Education says District 200 has done such a good job of following its program that it has given the district its "Energy Pacesetter Award."

Jan Noel-Smith, a spokeswoman for Energy Education, said about 40 of the firm's roughly 1,100 clients have received the award.

"The Pacesetter is an award that absolutely must be earned," Noel-Smith said. "It's got to be a client that has an above-average savings record."